All The Red Flags In The World And A $600 Bid

There are times when an ebay auction provides a potential bidder with RED FLAGS.

Can anyone believe there is a $600 bid on this obvious modern forgery of an 8 Escudo?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...120586053614





The coin has a few red flags:

1. It is an IN COLLAR strike and you can see the collar damage around the edge - visible on the left side of the shield side. An open press strike has no such fine pieces of metal pulled up by the edge collar. Originals have elongated oval shaped dentils that run to the edge of the coin. This coin has a raised rim enclosing the dentils.
2. The die is MODERN looking - old hand made dies do not look like modern coins.
3. Color - is anyone else bothered by what appears to be surface oxidation visible as a change in color caused by high point rubbing on a GOLD coin?
4. The size of the picture is a bit small but the CONTRAST is set so high that the details wash out.
5. The design is a POOR copy of an original just look at a picture of an original.

The auction has others:

1. The denomination is stated as 8 Pesos not 8 Escudos.
2. There is no appropriate data on the coin - like it carries a Santiago, Chile mint mark.
3. The coin should be encapsulated because if real this would be an $8,000 coin yet it starts at $600 - who does that?
4. The seller has 48 feedabacks - I know we need to start someplace but it inspires no confidence.

Of course you do get a "Certificate" but what type. A certification that this is a Nice Replica?

Finally did you notice the letter "R" under the Bust?

It is a marked REPLICA.

If the $600 bid is not from a shill - then I think the guy needs to have his head examined.